§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the planned deployment of Territorial Army (i) units and (ii) individual personnel in Kosovo; and what reassessment he is making of the Strategic Defence Review following the engagement of British troops in the Balkans. [81251]
§ Mr. George RobertsonThere are no plans to deploy units of the Territorial Army (TA) to Kosovo. Our policy is that TA commitments in the Balkans should continue to be met by individuals on a voluntary basis. The principles which underpin the Strategic Defence Review remain valid, and are not affected by the current deployment in the Balkans. However, full account will be taken of any lessons learned.